Trainer Richard Hannon has a good recent record in the Carnarvon Stakes and Moyassar looks to hold leading claims of enhancing it with victory in this year’s renewal of the Listed contest run over 6f at Newbury on Saturday (13:50).
The Newmarket handler has won two of the last five runnings, courtesy of Musical Comedy (2013) and Log Out Island (2016).
In Moyassar, he has a Hamdan Al Maktoum owned son of Tamayuz who did nothing wrong as a two-year-old when winning once and finishing in the frame on five occasions in six starts.
He looked the type that would come into his own as a three-year-old and, after shaping as if badly needing the run on return to action at Newmarket, that view was confirmed when he landed a competitive 10-runner class 2 handicap at the same venue.
Moyassar showed plenty of pace to track the leaders and, after being switched left at halfway, made good headway to take up the running approaching the final furlong.
When jockey Jim Crowley then asked him to go about his business, the response was immediate and he stretched clear to readily beat Mawakib by 2 1/2 lengths.
It was a very authoritative and taking display under top weight of 9st 7lb, and one which suggested Moyassar could be a group performer in the making.
If that is to be the case, then this looks the perfect stepping stone for him, while an official rating of 107 puts Moyassar 2lb and upwards clear of his 11 rivals.
So, with ground conditions fine, and over a trip which is his optimum, Moyassar looks the one to be on in this at 7/2 with Boylesports.
Khaadem and Red Impression main dangers
Khaadem also carries the famous blue and white colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum, and is a fascinating contender now stepped up in grade who can be backed at 5/1 with Ladbrokes.
This Charlie Hills trained son of Dark Angel shaped with plenty of promise on debut when an 11 lengths third of nine to the hugely exciting Calyx at Newmarket.
He duly built on that to win minor contests at the same venue and Doncaster in taking fashion, travelling well in both and showing a smart turn of foot to score by 3 1/4 lengths and 1 1/4 lengths respectively.
Although the form of those races is questionable, Khaadem is rated only 2lb below Moyassar and holds an entry in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. That suggests he is held in high regard.
So, if ready to roll following an eight-month absence, he looks a key player in this and one capable of giving Moyassar plenty to think about.
The Roger Charlton trained Red Impression, a 7/2 chance with BetVictor, is another with claims in a wide-open renewal in which a case can be made for plenty.
This other son of Dark Angel looked a useful prospect when winning two minor contests on the all-weather at Kempton and Lingfield towards the backend of last year by wide margins.
There was also lots to like about his return to action at Chelmsford last month when stepped into Listed company and making good late headway from the rear to finish a never nearer half-a-length third of 13 to Isaan Queen
Red Impression is entitled to come on a bundle for that outing and a bold bid to get back to winning ways looks assured.
Crystal Ocean has Aston Park at his mercy
In the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes (14:25), Crystal Ocean looks in a totally different league to his rivals and a worthy red-hot favourite at 2/5 with 888Sport to land back-to-back runnings of the 1m 4f contest.
This Sir Michael Stoute trained five-year-old developed into a top notch middle distance performer last season, and has a tremendous strike rate having won six of hos 13 starts.
After making a winning reappearance in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown, the Evelyn De Rothschild owned son of Sea The Stars took this in facile fashion when slamming Second Step by six lengths.
Crystal Ocean then completed a hat-trick with an easy 2 1/2 lengths success over Red Verdon in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, before running a cracker when by a neck second to stable companion Poet’s Word in the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
He went on to round off off the campaign with a solid six-length second to Cracksman in another Group 1 at Ascot, on British Champions Day and soft ground.
The form of those races set a clear standard in this, while an official rating of 125 gives Crystal Ocean 13lb and upwards in hand on his six rivals.
It makes this look a penalty kick for him, especially as he looked better than ever when landing the Gordon Richards Stakes for a second time on seasonal reappearance at Sandown last month.
The Owen Burrows trained Laraaib is second best in on ratings, so looks the obvious one to chase home Crystal Ocean for straight forecast backers following a good third last time out in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes over course and distance.
In Sea Of Faith we trust
Sea Of Faith was a massive eye-catcher on debut and looks decent value at 5/2 with Betfair to land the Listed 1m 2f Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes (16:50).
That run came at Sandown three weeks ago where the impeccably bred daughter of Derby winner Sea The Stars finished a 2 3/4 lengths fourth of 11 to Sparkle Roll.
After starting slowly and running very green at the rear of the field, Sea Of Faith was still last two furlongs from home and looked to have a mountain to climb.
The penny then finally dropped and, despite hanging right, she powered home to be gaining hand over fist at the finish.
It was a huge effort and one which suggested Sea Of Faith, who holds an entry in the Epsom Oaks for which she is currently a top-price 20/1, had a big future and needed keeping firmly onside.
The winner is also a highly regarded John Gosden inmate who was sent off favourite for the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York earlier in the week, so Sea Of Faith did well to get so close to her given how the race panned out
She is sure to be far more streetwise with that run under her belt and Haggas saddled subsequent dual Group 1 winner and Arc runner-up Sea Of Class to land this 12 months ago on just her second start.
Sea Of Faith has the potential to make up into a group performer and is thus taken to land this en route to better things.
Queen Power feared most under SDS
The Sir Michael Stoute trained Queen Power, who is 11/4 with Unibet, also holds Group 1 entries and looks the main danger to Sea Of Faith now stepped up in trip.
This daughter of Shamardal is owned by King Power Racing, who have made a tremendous start to the season.
She won her sole start as a juvenile in good style when in the care of Ralph Beckett and landing a 12-runner Newmarket by 1 1/2 lengths from Duneflower.
That race has thrown-up plenty of subsequent winners, and there was lots to like about Queen Power’s first start for Stoute when a short-head runner-up to Muchly over a mile at Ascot earlier in the month.
After racing keenly in mid-division, Queen Power made good headway when switched to the outside two from home and stayed on strongly under Silvestre De Sousa.
She would have won in another stride and, judged on that effort, the extra two furlongs in this look sure to suit.
With the in-form champion jockey once again in the saddle, a bold bid to get back to winning ways looks on the cards.
So, should Sea Of Faith fail to live up to expectations, Queen Power looks the obvious one to take advantage.
